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Portals of Infinity #5
Demigods and Deities
Life can be complicated for those who the gods pick as their champions, and for William, it's really no different. Between dealing with issues at home for his god Feliogustus, to helping Queen Rachel defend Hiland against the growing threat of Barassa, to being loaned out to other gods in other spheres, William has been kept busy. Many of these tasks have had consequences however. Some of those William expected, and for one of them the time has come to deal with it and a trip back to Sireen may soon be in order. Complicating that matter however are those who are holding a grudge against William for his thwarting of their actions. But when the followers of another god kidnap his youngest child, William's first question is, is this revenge, or is there something special about his child? With both his god, and the goddess Aryanna mostly mute on the issue, beyond their one command to keep the child 'hidden', William wonders what it is they won't say, and why. As always, there are things you need to take on faith when you work for a god, but sometimes their responses can be very frustrating. Especially when they order you not to ask questions, but the welfare of your own child is involved. Add to that some equally strange discoveries about his old foe Cenewyg back on Earth, which are also affecting his life and William is left with more questions than for which he has answers.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 4, 2015
276 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
John Van Stry
48 books364 followersI've had a very varied life. I grew up in New York, on Long Island.
I went to school to become an Engineer, then joined the Air Force.
After that I worked first in Robotics, then in Aerospace as a Flight Test Engineer. I moved into the medical fields, then into more Technical markets working for a number of high tech companies where I became a Contractor.
I used to own and raise big cats. I love motorcycles and old cars. I'm a pilot and former martial arts instructor. I'm a fan of the Reno Air Races.
Then there's the stuff I'm not supposed to talk about, but that's another story.
I've seen a lot of interesting stuff go by, met a lot of interesting, wonderful, strange, or sometimes just psychotic people. I've had the opportunity to work on some truly game changing technologies. And while I've had some very bad things happen to me in my life, I've never let it stop me.
Keep smiling.
-John
I went to school to become an Engineer, then joined the Air Force.
After that I worked first in Robotics, then in Aerospace as a Flight Test Engineer. I moved into the medical fields, then into more Technical markets working for a number of high tech companies where I became a Contractor.
I used to own and raise big cats. I love motorcycles and old cars. I'm a pilot and former martial arts instructor. I'm a fan of the Reno Air Races.
Then there's the stuff I'm not supposed to talk about, but that's another story.
I've seen a lot of interesting stuff go by, met a lot of interesting, wonderful, strange, or sometimes just psychotic people. I've had the opportunity to work on some truly game changing technologies. And while I've had some very bad things happen to me in my life, I've never let it stop me.
Keep smiling.
-John
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 28, 2021
Rating 3.5 stars
Re-Read August 2019 - Initial review below.
Not my favorite story. I like when Will goes different places, kicks ass and has fun. There wasn't a lot of fun in this story. He also spent most of his time on Fel's world trying to win a war. I prefer it when Will is either fighting by himself or small battles. I didn't like the war story, it lasted to long and was too complicated. It also didn't have much in the way of champion magic, which I find interesting. Will mainly used his champion status to "inspire" the troops. . So in the end there was a lot less fun, a lot less sex, a lot more frustration, and a more boring storyline. I still like the series as a whole, I just hope it doesn't start to be a trend in the next couple of books.
Re-Read August 2019 - Initial review below.
Not my favorite story. I like when Will goes different places, kicks ass and has fun. There wasn't a lot of fun in this story. He also spent most of his time on Fel's world trying to win a war. I prefer it when Will is either fighting by himself or small battles. I didn't like the war story, it lasted to long and was too complicated. It also didn't have much in the way of champion magic, which I find interesting. Will mainly used his champion status to "inspire" the troops. . So in the end there was a lot less fun, a lot less sex, a lot more frustration, and a more boring storyline. I still like the series as a whole, I just hope it doesn't start to be a trend in the next couple of books.
July 29, 2024
Well, That ended weirdly.
This is my third read of this book and I love just as much each time. I love how each book is different, and that each individual book is not a complete discrete adventure but contains many separate missions and locations.
All of the books in this series are fairly off-beat, to call this one weirder than the rest would be a disservice but... just looking among fantasy/harem books this one is unlike any other I've ever read or heard of. God I love that! not just a cookie cutter copy of every other book out there.
This is my third read of this book and I love just as much each time. I love how each book is different, and that each individual book is not a complete discrete adventure but contains many separate missions and locations.
All of the books in this series are fairly off-beat, to call this one weirder than the rest would be a disservice but... just looking among fantasy/harem books this one is unlike any other I've ever read or heard of. God I love that! not just a cookie cutter copy of every other book out there.
August 13, 2015
Super story
Took two days to read. Please keep the stories coming. Takes off where the last book in series ended. Can't wait for the next one.
Took two days to read. Please keep the stories coming. Takes off where the last book in series ended. Can't wait for the next one.
March 27, 2016
The God's Champion
Tue fifty of the series and it still reads very easily. William gives birth (yes he's male, almost always and almost everywhere) to a son and has to help him survive. The son of a goddess and a champion seems to be a strange thing. Interspersed there is a bloody war for his wife Rachel, and the usual chats with his god, Felaugustus. Really entertaining, do not think of it as a masterpiece, but it is really fun reading it. It strikes the right notes for me.
Tue fifty of the series and it still reads very easily. William gives birth (yes he's male, almost always and almost everywhere) to a son and has to help him survive. The son of a goddess and a champion seems to be a strange thing. Interspersed there is a bloody war for his wife Rachel, and the usual chats with his god, Felaugustus. Really entertaining, do not think of it as a masterpiece, but it is really fun reading it. It strikes the right notes for me.
August 17, 2015
Another Great Read
This is another great episode in the continuing story of gods, champions, and the things they face together. Like Rules, and how they can affect actions, and yet also how action can affect Rules. If you're a fan of the "Portal" series like I am then this one is another must-read.
This is another great episode in the continuing story of gods, champions, and the things they face together. Like Rules, and how they can affect actions, and yet also how action can affect Rules. If you're a fan of the "Portal" series like I am then this one is another must-read.
March 9, 2016
Best yet
I like these stories and how they're put together. I also like how each story has numerous plot lines in them, and not just one main one. It's like reading several mini stories, but all placed into one story, and all seamlessly mixed together. Still quite a few grammatical errors to overlook, but nothing too bad. Time to read the next one.
I like these stories and how they're put together. I also like how each story has numerous plot lines in them, and not just one main one. It's like reading several mini stories, but all placed into one story, and all seamlessly mixed together. Still quite a few grammatical errors to overlook, but nothing too bad. Time to read the next one.
September 8, 2015
Action packed adventure
I gave this book 5 stars because it earned every one. Once you begin reading this series you will be drawn in and fall in love with the very colorful characters.
I gave this book 5 stars because it earned every one. Once you begin reading this series you will be drawn in and fall in love with the very colorful characters.
January 27, 2018
263 pages
This is the first in this series I feel can be called a book.
However it could use some fleshing out.
Editing was good, I only found one mistake.
Still just think this is a kindle unlimited only read.
This is the first in this series I feel can be called a book.
However it could use some fleshing out.
Editing was good, I only found one mistake.
Still just think this is a kindle unlimited only read.
May 8, 2020
I just blew through the first five book in this series so they are getting the same review. Also, I listened to audio books but since those editions aren't listed on Goodreads.com at this time my reviews are going under other editions.
This review has gotten a little long so I'm going to start with an executive summary: If you like world traveler and/or D&D style books you'll probably like these. In general these books are good enough so that a reader predisposed to enjoy them will. If you are that kind of reader you may want to save yourself the time it would take to read this review and go give book 1 a try.
Book summaries: (Note, read at your own risk. I stopped calling out spoilers after the first one.)
Book 1: The MC, Will, finds a portal to a D&D style world. The world isn't named but the city Will comes to treat as home here is "Hillshire" so that's what I'll call this world. Will immediately develops an inter-portal bow trading scheme- Hillshire citizens pay top gold for the better performing modern earth bows while modern Americans pay top dollar for the high quality authentic medieval bows from Hillshire.
While traveling in pursuit of his business Will meets and marries Darlene. Will returns to earth to resupply on modern bows. When Will attempts to return to Hillshire he discovers the portal has disappeared. This leads to Will agreeing to serve as "champion" for the god Feliogustus (Fel for short). In return for his service Fel will help Will get back to Hilshire. Will therefore takes a portal to a cat beast-kin world where he rescues Queen Rachel of the city state Hiland from being sacrificed to an opposing god. Hiland is being invaded by the neighboring city state of Muland. Will, using his knowledge of ancient battles from earth, creates a battle strategy to overcome the 2 to 1 disadvantage faced by the defending Hiland forces. [SKIP THE REST OF THIS PARAGRAPH TO AVOID SPOILERS] The plan succeeds and Will leads a counterattack that chases the Mulanders all the way back to their city and captures it, contrary to the orders of Fel. Fel only wanted his city to survive, the conquest of Muland effectively wipes out its god and creates hostility towards Fel from his fellow gods. That hostility is muted, however, since Fel can prove to his fellow gods that Will went against his orders.
Book 2: Will tracks down another champion in the hopes of learning more about being champion. This results in Will learning that this champion, Stephanie, was his former girlfriend on earth. Stephanie had been sent to vet Will for Fel. Stephanie's goddess, Aryanna, has put together a team of five champions to take on a difficult mission the details of which are to be kept hidden, even from Stephanie, so another god can't learn of it should they die. It eventually comes out that the route the 5 champions are taking is the reverse of Odysseus' "Odyssey". It also comes out that one of the 5 champions, Cenewyg, is a bad guy. This is where the author's inability to write suspense becomes obvious since he makes it clear Cenewyg is a bad guy but his only method for Will and Stephanie not addressing the viper in their midst until the climax is them denying what they are witnessing.
Book 3: Now that Queen Rachel controls two large city states she sends Will as emissary to three smaller cities adjoining her territory. Will presents Queen Rachel's offer to allow the smaller cities to join her kingdom. Will is also to assist in the building of temples for Fel in the three cities.
Muland was supplying slaves to an even larger city and the three smaller cities were preyed upon by the Mulanders before the Mulanders were defeated and annexed by Hiland. As a result the three cities are friendly toward Hiland and the first of the cities accepts Queen Rachel's offer immediately. The second city only took slightly longer but then the temple being constructed to Fel is repeatedly attacked and damaged. Eventually the temple is completed to the point where Will can head to the third city but two things became clear during his time in the second city: There is at least one hidden temple to another god in the second city and its priests were behind the attacks on Fel's temple.
On the way to the third city Will & co. are attacked by followers of Tantrus, the god of the city Barassa, the primary slave trading city. The attackers didn't know a champion was present, the result being that the attack was fought off, albeit with casualties. Will then tracked the attackers to their camp and in a holy rage slaughters them. Will is then inspired to establish a temple to Fel in the hidden valley where the attackers were holed up.
Will gets to city 3 and meets its leader when he has to run back to city 2 because an overwhelming attack there destroyed Fel's temple. The attackers were done up to look like musicians but Will was able to see though that. Still, the attempt to blame the musicians that follow the local god of music, Fordessa, results in Fel and Fordessa forming a pantheon.
Will's investigation turns up a secret temple to Tantrus which is destroyed in a pitched battle. This reveals that Tantrus has been setting up secret temples in other gods' territories which turns the local gods against him. Next Will encounters grassland tribesmen who ride "wolats" (large wolves) like horses. Will makes a deal to purchase wolats with the idea of starting a cavalry for Hiland.
Next Will is loaned out to Aryanna to vet possible champions. This results in Jane being recruited as champion for Fordessa. After Will returns to visit his family on earth and his sister, Nikki, (who has recently left the army) noses into what Will has been up to and ends up traveling to Hillshire with Will. Nikki takes to Hillshire and remains there when Will heads back to Hiland (Nikki thereafter becoming Aryanna's champion). A fourth city is in negotiation to join Hiland so Will and Queen Rachel head there with Hiland's nascent cavalry. While there, the agreement is signed but word comes of a Tantrus attack on the Hiland palace so they return at speed. Will, Jane and a third allied champion locate a major temple to Tantrus, attack it, killing the high priest and running off the champion dealing a major blow to Tantrus.
Book 4: Will scouts Barassa and ends up rescuing a 13 year old slave girl, Goth. Will failed to discover any weaknesses in Barassa's defenses so Hiland decides to wage economic warfare against them by doing what they can to stop slaves from flowing into the city. By mischance both of Fel's missionaries to the grassland tribes died so next Will is tasked with finding replacements and shepherding them to the grasslands. Will participates in a tribesman raid on a caravan passing through the grasslands. The caravan turns out to be carrying a large number of slaves for Barassa and Will convinces the tribes to step up their attacks and include Hiland cavalry. Will returns to Hiland to get the cavalry and Queen Rachel accompanies him on the return to the grasslands to open relations with the tribes. After Rachel heads back to Hiland Will encounters Evian, the champion of the god Rodin. Evian bizarrely and against her god's wishes, attempts to kill Will. The followers of Rodin are ejected from the grasslands as a result. Will stays in the grasslands until spring when a large caravan with military escort is discovered. Will leads the raids to slow the caravan so a large enough force can be mustered to take it. Will is successful but dies. Book 4 ends with Will speaking with Fel about the campaign while awaiting his reincarnation.
Book 5: In book 2 Will had to spend a couple of months as a female. During that time he became pregnant but moved on before giving birth. Now the gods tell Will he must return and have his baby or lose it for good. So Will returns but he made enemies in that realm so Will spends much of his 6 months there on the run. Once the baby, Cam, is born it is immediately kidnapped (no information is given about how Will was found but that is a theme throughout this book). Will is killed during the kidnapping and reincarnates in Hiland. Will puts together a team of champions and heads to earth to arm and train. Since Cenewyg, the villain from book 2, was an arms dealer in South Africa, the team heads there. The kidnappers have low quality guns so raiding Cenewyg's armory gives Will's team a weapons advantage. While there Will discovers that Cenewyg was practicing human sacrifices to an unknown god. Will's team rescues Cam. Cam is then placed with Will's wife in Hillshire (Darlene). Darlene is told that Cam is Nikki's child (Will's sister and the local champion).
Will then returns to Hiland. Barassa is attacking Marland, the lone city between Barassa and Hiland. So Hiland rides to the aid of Marland and Will rides with them. After the Barassans are forced to withdraw the King of Marland insanely turns on the Hilanders. The Marland army, however, is quickly sidelined and Will and Jane confront the King. In return for signing over his kingdom to Hiland the king is allowed to leave with what gold he can carry and any retainers who choose to join him.
A few months go by and Will receives word that Cam has been kidnapped by Cenewyg (we aren't told how Cenewyg found Cam). Will and Nikki begin chasing Cenewyg through world gates. It eventually becomes clear where Cenewyg is heading. At the end of book 2 Stephanie became a god.
Stephanie, thanks to the gender swapping realm, is also Cam's father. Cenewyg believes sacrificing Cam in Stephanie's realm will give Cenewyg power. Will and Nikki get ahead of Cenewyg and lie in wait for him at the final world gate but Cenewyg's troops are attacking to take control of the gate and so Will and Nikki have to help Stephanie's followers fight them off. Cenewyg shows up and fights Will to a standstill but Will manages to turn that into mutual death. This allows Will to speak with Stephanie who explains the alters on earth were to the god Cenewyg hoped to become. Stephanie also explains that Cenewyg can't be reincarnated for a year and that if Will can destroy Cenewyg's cult on earth in that time Cenewyg won't reincarnate at all.
The closing scene is Will explaining to an FBI agent that the agent's boss is dead because the boss belonged to Cenewyg's cult. No explanation how Will discovered that.
The review:
Books 1 and 2 have slow story development because author spends lots of time on world building. This author does not have the knack of building a world as he goes so we get lengthy explanations of some things. This is less of an issue in book 2 thanks to side adventures. Not really an issue in books 3-5 since the author has most of the background in place by that time.
The author is poor at writing action. In one fight (book 1), where the MC takes on 3 robbers, two of the robbers do little more than stand and wait for the MC to get to them. In a major battle (book 1) essentially all the reader is told is that the MC leads a charge and thanks to his heightened abilities hacks and slashes his way to success. In book 3 there is a fight at an aggressor god's temple and the wounded and injured list given at the end of the fight makes no sense compared to what the reader is told about the fight. In this fight Will fights another champion and at one point Will has both his hands occupied, one pinned with an arrow and the other removing the arrow, and yet the opposing champion doesn't kill him?
The author has no ability to write suspense. This is primarily an issue in book 2 where the author makes it completely obvious who the bad guy will turn out to be but has his characters repeatedly deny the obvious to tell the story he wants to tell. While I like a good straightforward story, this author crosses the line into over simplistic.
HOWEVER, THERE IS ONE TERRIFIC THING ABOUT THESE BOOKS: The MC is actually polite. I can't believe the number of times I've read books where the MC is rude to someone for no reason but the reader isn't suppose to notice because it is the MC. This is particularly noticeable in fantasy books where the MC will meet a god, king or other noble or powerful entity and act like a jerk AND NOT GET BEHEADED???
There is also one well above average aspect to these books: They don't rely on stupidity to move the story forward. Many times the author doesn't explain things that should be explained (like how Will discovers Cenewyg's pet FBI agent) but that's not the same as being stupid.
Book length is too short:
Book 1: 162 pages
Book 2: 164 pages
Book 3: 198 pages
Book 4: 166 pages
Book 5: 279 pages
With some decent editing these 5 mediocre books could have been tightened up into one good book, but then the author/publisher would have received less money.
The author is BAD at story resolution in general. Book 4 in particular, ends at the very beginning of a military campaign so absolutely no resolution there at all. This is a serious problem in modern publishing- authors seem to be trying to increase book sales by telling incomplete stories. In other words, it seems to have become acceptable to try to get readers to come back for the rest of the story rather than BECAUSE THE AUTHOR ACTUALLY DID A GOOD JOB.
Bottom line: These books can be enjoyed but they require the reader to meet them halfway by over looking many flaws.
This review has gotten a little long so I'm going to start with an executive summary: If you like world traveler and/or D&D style books you'll probably like these. In general these books are good enough so that a reader predisposed to enjoy them will. If you are that kind of reader you may want to save yourself the time it would take to read this review and go give book 1 a try.
Book summaries: (Note, read at your own risk. I stopped calling out spoilers after the first one.)
Book 1: The MC, Will, finds a portal to a D&D style world. The world isn't named but the city Will comes to treat as home here is "Hillshire" so that's what I'll call this world. Will immediately develops an inter-portal bow trading scheme- Hillshire citizens pay top gold for the better performing modern earth bows while modern Americans pay top dollar for the high quality authentic medieval bows from Hillshire.
While traveling in pursuit of his business Will meets and marries Darlene. Will returns to earth to resupply on modern bows. When Will attempts to return to Hillshire he discovers the portal has disappeared. This leads to Will agreeing to serve as "champion" for the god Feliogustus (Fel for short). In return for his service Fel will help Will get back to Hilshire. Will therefore takes a portal to a cat beast-kin world where he rescues Queen Rachel of the city state Hiland from being sacrificed to an opposing god. Hiland is being invaded by the neighboring city state of Muland. Will, using his knowledge of ancient battles from earth, creates a battle strategy to overcome the 2 to 1 disadvantage faced by the defending Hiland forces. [SKIP THE REST OF THIS PARAGRAPH TO AVOID SPOILERS] The plan succeeds and Will leads a counterattack that chases the Mulanders all the way back to their city and captures it, contrary to the orders of Fel. Fel only wanted his city to survive, the conquest of Muland effectively wipes out its god and creates hostility towards Fel from his fellow gods. That hostility is muted, however, since Fel can prove to his fellow gods that Will went against his orders.
Book 2: Will tracks down another champion in the hopes of learning more about being champion. This results in Will learning that this champion, Stephanie, was his former girlfriend on earth. Stephanie had been sent to vet Will for Fel. Stephanie's goddess, Aryanna, has put together a team of five champions to take on a difficult mission the details of which are to be kept hidden, even from Stephanie, so another god can't learn of it should they die. It eventually comes out that the route the 5 champions are taking is the reverse of Odysseus' "Odyssey". It also comes out that one of the 5 champions, Cenewyg, is a bad guy. This is where the author's inability to write suspense becomes obvious since he makes it clear Cenewyg is a bad guy but his only method for Will and Stephanie not addressing the viper in their midst until the climax is them denying what they are witnessing.
Book 3: Now that Queen Rachel controls two large city states she sends Will as emissary to three smaller cities adjoining her territory. Will presents Queen Rachel's offer to allow the smaller cities to join her kingdom. Will is also to assist in the building of temples for Fel in the three cities.
Muland was supplying slaves to an even larger city and the three smaller cities were preyed upon by the Mulanders before the Mulanders were defeated and annexed by Hiland. As a result the three cities are friendly toward Hiland and the first of the cities accepts Queen Rachel's offer immediately. The second city only took slightly longer but then the temple being constructed to Fel is repeatedly attacked and damaged. Eventually the temple is completed to the point where Will can head to the third city but two things became clear during his time in the second city: There is at least one hidden temple to another god in the second city and its priests were behind the attacks on Fel's temple.
On the way to the third city Will & co. are attacked by followers of Tantrus, the god of the city Barassa, the primary slave trading city. The attackers didn't know a champion was present, the result being that the attack was fought off, albeit with casualties. Will then tracked the attackers to their camp and in a holy rage slaughters them. Will is then inspired to establish a temple to Fel in the hidden valley where the attackers were holed up.
Will gets to city 3 and meets its leader when he has to run back to city 2 because an overwhelming attack there destroyed Fel's temple. The attackers were done up to look like musicians but Will was able to see though that. Still, the attempt to blame the musicians that follow the local god of music, Fordessa, results in Fel and Fordessa forming a pantheon.
Will's investigation turns up a secret temple to Tantrus which is destroyed in a pitched battle. This reveals that Tantrus has been setting up secret temples in other gods' territories which turns the local gods against him. Next Will encounters grassland tribesmen who ride "wolats" (large wolves) like horses. Will makes a deal to purchase wolats with the idea of starting a cavalry for Hiland.
Next Will is loaned out to Aryanna to vet possible champions. This results in Jane being recruited as champion for Fordessa. After Will returns to visit his family on earth and his sister, Nikki, (who has recently left the army) noses into what Will has been up to and ends up traveling to Hillshire with Will. Nikki takes to Hillshire and remains there when Will heads back to Hiland (Nikki thereafter becoming Aryanna's champion). A fourth city is in negotiation to join Hiland so Will and Queen Rachel head there with Hiland's nascent cavalry. While there, the agreement is signed but word comes of a Tantrus attack on the Hiland palace so they return at speed. Will, Jane and a third allied champion locate a major temple to Tantrus, attack it, killing the high priest and running off the champion dealing a major blow to Tantrus.
Book 4: Will scouts Barassa and ends up rescuing a 13 year old slave girl, Goth. Will failed to discover any weaknesses in Barassa's defenses so Hiland decides to wage economic warfare against them by doing what they can to stop slaves from flowing into the city. By mischance both of Fel's missionaries to the grassland tribes died so next Will is tasked with finding replacements and shepherding them to the grasslands. Will participates in a tribesman raid on a caravan passing through the grasslands. The caravan turns out to be carrying a large number of slaves for Barassa and Will convinces the tribes to step up their attacks and include Hiland cavalry. Will returns to Hiland to get the cavalry and Queen Rachel accompanies him on the return to the grasslands to open relations with the tribes. After Rachel heads back to Hiland Will encounters Evian, the champion of the god Rodin. Evian bizarrely and against her god's wishes, attempts to kill Will. The followers of Rodin are ejected from the grasslands as a result. Will stays in the grasslands until spring when a large caravan with military escort is discovered. Will leads the raids to slow the caravan so a large enough force can be mustered to take it. Will is successful but dies. Book 4 ends with Will speaking with Fel about the campaign while awaiting his reincarnation.
Book 5: In book 2 Will had to spend a couple of months as a female. During that time he became pregnant but moved on before giving birth. Now the gods tell Will he must return and have his baby or lose it for good. So Will returns but he made enemies in that realm so Will spends much of his 6 months there on the run. Once the baby, Cam, is born it is immediately kidnapped (no information is given about how Will was found but that is a theme throughout this book). Will is killed during the kidnapping and reincarnates in Hiland. Will puts together a team of champions and heads to earth to arm and train. Since Cenewyg, the villain from book 2, was an arms dealer in South Africa, the team heads there. The kidnappers have low quality guns so raiding Cenewyg's armory gives Will's team a weapons advantage. While there Will discovers that Cenewyg was practicing human sacrifices to an unknown god. Will's team rescues Cam. Cam is then placed with Will's wife in Hillshire (Darlene). Darlene is told that Cam is Nikki's child (Will's sister and the local champion).
Will then returns to Hiland. Barassa is attacking Marland, the lone city between Barassa and Hiland. So Hiland rides to the aid of Marland and Will rides with them. After the Barassans are forced to withdraw the King of Marland insanely turns on the Hilanders. The Marland army, however, is quickly sidelined and Will and Jane confront the King. In return for signing over his kingdom to Hiland the king is allowed to leave with what gold he can carry and any retainers who choose to join him.
A few months go by and Will receives word that Cam has been kidnapped by Cenewyg (we aren't told how Cenewyg found Cam). Will and Nikki begin chasing Cenewyg through world gates. It eventually becomes clear where Cenewyg is heading. At the end of book 2 Stephanie became a god.
Stephanie, thanks to the gender swapping realm, is also Cam's father. Cenewyg believes sacrificing Cam in Stephanie's realm will give Cenewyg power. Will and Nikki get ahead of Cenewyg and lie in wait for him at the final world gate but Cenewyg's troops are attacking to take control of the gate and so Will and Nikki have to help Stephanie's followers fight them off. Cenewyg shows up and fights Will to a standstill but Will manages to turn that into mutual death. This allows Will to speak with Stephanie who explains the alters on earth were to the god Cenewyg hoped to become. Stephanie also explains that Cenewyg can't be reincarnated for a year and that if Will can destroy Cenewyg's cult on earth in that time Cenewyg won't reincarnate at all.
The closing scene is Will explaining to an FBI agent that the agent's boss is dead because the boss belonged to Cenewyg's cult. No explanation how Will discovered that.
The review:
Books 1 and 2 have slow story development because author spends lots of time on world building. This author does not have the knack of building a world as he goes so we get lengthy explanations of some things. This is less of an issue in book 2 thanks to side adventures. Not really an issue in books 3-5 since the author has most of the background in place by that time.
The author is poor at writing action. In one fight (book 1), where the MC takes on 3 robbers, two of the robbers do little more than stand and wait for the MC to get to them. In a major battle (book 1) essentially all the reader is told is that the MC leads a charge and thanks to his heightened abilities hacks and slashes his way to success. In book 3 there is a fight at an aggressor god's temple and the wounded and injured list given at the end of the fight makes no sense compared to what the reader is told about the fight. In this fight Will fights another champion and at one point Will has both his hands occupied, one pinned with an arrow and the other removing the arrow, and yet the opposing champion doesn't kill him?
The author has no ability to write suspense. This is primarily an issue in book 2 where the author makes it completely obvious who the bad guy will turn out to be but has his characters repeatedly deny the obvious to tell the story he wants to tell. While I like a good straightforward story, this author crosses the line into over simplistic.
HOWEVER, THERE IS ONE TERRIFIC THING ABOUT THESE BOOKS: The MC is actually polite. I can't believe the number of times I've read books where the MC is rude to someone for no reason but the reader isn't suppose to notice because it is the MC. This is particularly noticeable in fantasy books where the MC will meet a god, king or other noble or powerful entity and act like a jerk AND NOT GET BEHEADED???
There is also one well above average aspect to these books: They don't rely on stupidity to move the story forward. Many times the author doesn't explain things that should be explained (like how Will discovers Cenewyg's pet FBI agent) but that's not the same as being stupid.
Book length is too short:
Book 1: 162 pages
Book 2: 164 pages
Book 3: 198 pages
Book 4: 166 pages
Book 5: 279 pages
With some decent editing these 5 mediocre books could have been tightened up into one good book, but then the author/publisher would have received less money.
The author is BAD at story resolution in general. Book 4 in particular, ends at the very beginning of a military campaign so absolutely no resolution there at all. This is a serious problem in modern publishing- authors seem to be trying to increase book sales by telling incomplete stories. In other words, it seems to have become acceptable to try to get readers to come back for the rest of the story rather than BECAUSE THE AUTHOR ACTUALLY DID A GOOD JOB.
Bottom line: These books can be enjoyed but they require the reader to meet them halfway by over looking many flaws.
August 6, 2022
William, main character gives birth to Cameron, and other gods abduct baby Cam...with the help of Will's sister Nikki, they plot and plan the rescue. A lot of action, training and modern weaponry in a feudal world.
The "love child arc" finally has progression in this fifth volume. This volume is the first volume that exceeds 300+ pages. (Twice as much as the other volumes. The author uses modern weaponry in this one, just because he can...with no real explanation, no rules to prohibit it, etc. from the Gods that rule the worlds they use the weapons in...
Cameron's Dad (Stephanie/Jennifer) finally shows up as well...Goth (the girl Will adopts) learns music. The other part of this Volume 5 deals with the final war with the Barassa Empire/Kingdom (Slavers).
Still no maps of the different worlds, no interior illustrations of the action or of the characters...
Because main characters can now teleport and open their own portals, the traveling from world to world is extensive and gets confusing.
The "love child arc" finally has progression in this fifth volume. This volume is the first volume that exceeds 300+ pages. (Twice as much as the other volumes. The author uses modern weaponry in this one, just because he can...with no real explanation, no rules to prohibit it, etc. from the Gods that rule the worlds they use the weapons in...
Cameron's Dad (Stephanie/Jennifer) finally shows up as well...Goth (the girl Will adopts) learns music. The other part of this Volume 5 deals with the final war with the Barassa Empire/Kingdom (Slavers).
Still no maps of the different worlds, no interior illustrations of the action or of the characters...
Because main characters can now teleport and open their own portals, the traveling from world to world is extensive and gets confusing.
November 24, 2019
Decent conclusion to an open plot line
I am glad there was some closure for the events of book 2. I still wish he could do more with Stephanie, but I am glad that because of it he is a little more than a run of the mill champion. I know that Fel said he would never be cut out for Godhood, but I wish the other gods treated him better as he could have been more if he chose it. I hope we continue to see stuff happen along the lines of what this book covered as I definitely enjoy it more than the events on Saladin. Evean definitely makes up for it though, she's a badass.
I am glad there was some closure for the events of book 2. I still wish he could do more with Stephanie, but I am glad that because of it he is a little more than a run of the mill champion. I know that Fel said he would never be cut out for Godhood, but I wish the other gods treated him better as he could have been more if he chose it. I hope we continue to see stuff happen along the lines of what this book covered as I definitely enjoy it more than the events on Saladin. Evean definitely makes up for it though, she's a badass.
July 4, 2022
fantastic series, it just keeps getting better
Feels like a James Bond meets Jason Bourne movie across different realities. War between city-states, gods and their champions. The re-birth of William and Steph’s child. Sword and sorcery at is best, with rocket launchers and demolition thrown in for good measure.
This has been a really fantastic series that l’ve been chain reading and l will certainly be looking for the authors other works. I think that the late Stan Lee of Marvel comics would have really enjoyed this as l do.
Feels like a James Bond meets Jason Bourne movie across different realities. War between city-states, gods and their champions. The re-birth of William and Steph’s child. Sword and sorcery at is best, with rocket launchers and demolition thrown in for good measure.
This has been a really fantastic series that l’ve been chain reading and l will certainly be looking for the authors other works. I think that the late Stan Lee of Marvel comics would have really enjoyed this as l do.
April 11, 2022
Different
Fantasy magic portal travel
Will has more adventures on his adopted world of Saladin as well as plenty of gate traveling with is sister and their friends. Plenty of surprises in store. Wonder if he will ever reveal anything to his parents? Will Darlene and her kids ever visit cat world? At least three more books to go. I'm in. Buying the next one.
Fantasy magic portal travel
Will has more adventures on his adopted world of Saladin as well as plenty of gate traveling with is sister and their friends. Plenty of surprises in store. Wonder if he will ever reveal anything to his parents? Will Darlene and her kids ever visit cat world? At least three more books to go. I'm in. Buying the next one.
May 4, 2018
Will keeps busy fighting the nasty slave trades from Barassa as well as helping out other God's that Fel loans him out to. Will has to deal with his son being kidnapped and a bunch of weirdness with his bitter enemy Cen who seems like a real evil little rodent.
January 1, 2023
This is a monument to not following through.
I picked up the series after a long hiatus, I never finished book five. Got sick of the main character. Title of the review tells you why.
I picked up the series after a long hiatus, I never finished book five. Got sick of the main character. Title of the review tells you why.
February 26, 2018
very neat view of the world
March 2, 2018
Addicted!
I have read this entire series up to this point in one go. There is always a new twist and a new view to see.
I have read this entire series up to this point in one go. There is always a new twist and a new view to see.
May 10, 2018
Will kicks more bad guy butt with the help of his sister and the other champions. Another very good story.
May 31, 2018
Loved it
This series just gets better with it book. I can't wait to read the next one. Fast paced page turner with characters that you instantly root for. Highly recommended it
This series just gets better with it book. I can't wait to read the next one. Fast paced page turner with characters that you instantly root for. Highly recommended it
January 8, 2019
fantastic
April 4, 2019
Great book
Books are getting a little shorter, but I am sure that was so he could release them faster.
I really like this series.
Books are getting a little shorter, but I am sure that was so he could release them faster.
I really like this series.
August 9, 2019
Good Read.
The continuing story is kept fresh and enjoyable with the action and different worlds where some of the plot happens. Enjoying the series.
The continuing story is kept fresh and enjoyable with the action and different worlds where some of the plot happens. Enjoying the series.
February 6, 2020
Trd
Ok I'm gonna try to get a script for smaller businesses that are available for smaller businesses to the driveway
Ok I'm gonna try to get a script for smaller businesses that are available for smaller businesses to the driveway
August 4, 2020
A very entertaining follow up to a very interesting series.
August 25, 2020
Cleaved in two
Great book, story was fantastic, action was intense, and end of the book made me very happy. On to the next!
Great book, story was fantastic, action was intense, and end of the book made me very happy. On to the next!
September 5, 2021
This series did not keep up the steam it had from book one. Or maybe things changed too much, too fast, from a guy stumbling through rips in dimensional space to find adventure.
3/5 Stars
3/5 Stars
December 3, 2021
Not bad, altough it makes me distrust any information I get from the author from now on since obviously it will only take till is convenient to him. Wondering how been a Mystic will affect William.
January 27, 2023
portals o infinity book 5
This was a fun read. The plot and action was fast paced. I look forward to reading the book in the series
This was a fun read. The plot and action was fast paced. I look forward to reading the book in the series
December 21, 2023
Good book
Damn good book so damn fun and entertaining. Love this series and the Mc is funner then hell. Look forward to reading the next book in the series 😀
Damn good book so damn fun and entertaining. Love this series and the Mc is funner then hell. Look forward to reading the next book in the series 😀
September 30, 2015
Another predictable entry in the Portals of Infinity series where nothing surprising ever happens... Oh well, it's still pretty enjoyable.
William, the perfect model of all things right and correct in the world, who never makes a mistake, always gets the badguy, and at the end of every book expands his and his gods power and influence. All those who conflict with him are absolutely wrong and are the most wicked of evil beings.
In this book, champion of good Will battles the evil king Stivik and his incompetent generals while trying to defend an equally incompetent king trying to stab Will in the back. Without question, all battles that Will partakes in will be won flawlessly with few casualties.
The opening plot line is about Will/Wilma going back to Syreen to birth his and Stephanie's child. Immediately upon doing so, we learn the child is special and should be kept away from anyone with a religious affiliation for fear of him being kidnapped. Okay, so we have a warning about this, so does will let it happen? He let it happen twice? So the same incredibly predictable plot line was recycled for a second use?
So we have invasions happening, kidnappings, and people with conflicting opinions to Will being labelled as incompetent? In what way do all of these plot lines get resolved? As positively as humanly possible for Will's side.
We even know how the next book is going to go. Will invades Bassara and kills the evil king Stivik. Not because I know that of course, but unless John Van Stry suddenly stops being predictable, that's how it's going to end up.
Reading the author's blog, he's starting to write stories about Will's sister now because ... He's written himself into a wall in the main series and needs to figure out who Will gets to conquer—flawlessly—next. Well that's not what he said, but seems pretty obvious.
But seriously, there's something called back-and-forth in writing. If JVS is reading this, make the enemies have some smart moves too. Maybe Stivik's neighbor who he's always selling slaves to decides to use his army to help Stivik and ambush Will, slaughtering a good portion of his army. Maybe that other city also has a god and champion to help out. Maybe Stivik has access to some form of mount as well like elephants or something. Something that throws a wrench in Will's otherwise perfect plans.
William, the perfect model of all things right and correct in the world, who never makes a mistake, always gets the badguy, and at the end of every book expands his and his gods power and influence. All those who conflict with him are absolutely wrong and are the most wicked of evil beings.
In this book, champion of good Will battles the evil king Stivik and his incompetent generals while trying to defend an equally incompetent king trying to stab Will in the back. Without question, all battles that Will partakes in will be won flawlessly with few casualties.
The opening plot line is about Will/Wilma going back to Syreen to birth his and Stephanie's child. Immediately upon doing so, we learn the child is special and should be kept away from anyone with a religious affiliation for fear of him being kidnapped. Okay, so we have a warning about this, so does will let it happen? He let it happen twice? So the same incredibly predictable plot line was recycled for a second use?
So we have invasions happening, kidnappings, and people with conflicting opinions to Will being labelled as incompetent? In what way do all of these plot lines get resolved? As positively as humanly possible for Will's side.
We even know how the next book is going to go. Will invades Bassara and kills the evil king Stivik. Not because I know that of course, but unless John Van Stry suddenly stops being predictable, that's how it's going to end up.
Reading the author's blog, he's starting to write stories about Will's sister now because ... He's written himself into a wall in the main series and needs to figure out who Will gets to conquer—flawlessly—next. Well that's not what he said, but seems pretty obvious.
But seriously, there's something called back-and-forth in writing. If JVS is reading this, make the enemies have some smart moves too. Maybe Stivik's neighbor who he's always selling slaves to decides to use his army to help Stivik and ambush Will, slaughtering a good portion of his army. Maybe that other city also has a god and champion to help out. Maybe Stivik has access to some form of mount as well like elephants or something. Something that throws a wrench in Will's otherwise perfect plans.
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